When you 'See Something, Say Something'

by jmaloni

Thu, Apr 18th 2013 03:05 pm

Editorial by George Anderson

There's
never been a more important time for Americans to unite and pledge that when
they "see something," they "say something."

New
York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority originally unveiled the "See
Something, Say Something" campaign to increase public awareness about signs of
terrorism and the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law
enforcement authorities. This slogan, later licensed to the Department of
Homeland Security, highlights the concept that homeland security begins with
hometown security. As a retired NYPD assistant chief with 30 years of
experience as a police officer, supervisor, trainer, and critical incident
responder, I believe that every American needs to develop the tools and
techniques to honor the "See Something, Say Something" mandate.

Police
and security forces are hard at work but public safety is the responsibility of
all Americans. We are the first line of defense against acts of terrorism on
our country and each individual's help is needed. All Americans need to be on
alert for potential risks. The attempted car bombing in Times Square in 2010
was averted by the vigilance of a quick thinking street vendor who witnessed
smoke coming from an SUV and alerted police. This potentially saved hundreds of
lives had the device functioned as it was nefariously intended. While this
incident was front-page news, virtually every day thousands of citizens across
the country witness suspicious activity. Citizens play important roles in
helping law enforcement solve crimes and save lives by becoming actively
involved in protecting their communities. Whether you live in a rural or urban
environment, our best defense is to let the authorities know when something
does not look right and to be prepared for the unexpected.

As
vice president of operations at the U.S.'s largest security services company
and a former police officer, I offer these tips to help people know how to
recognize and report suspicious activity:

•Take
Note of Suspicious Behavior Suspicious activity can be
defined as an incident, circumstance or person who appears out of the ordinary
and out of place. A range of suspicious behavior includes the adult man
loitering alone in the children's playground, or someone wandering down the
street peering closely into car windows. A person taking lots of photographs of
a building's infrastructure is potentially suspicious as this person may be
taking images to look for weaknesses in the building to exploit for criminal or
terrorist activities. Someone tampering with sewer, gas or electric systems who
is not branded with an identifiable company or government agency is suspicious.
Hearing unusual sounds - glass breaking, shouting, gunshots - all are clearly
suspicious. Seeing a bag left by a passenger on a bus or train or in a public place
is suspicious and demands immediate action by alerting the bus or train
operator and calling 911.

•Record
Suspicious Activity Write down as much information about the suspicious
behavior as possible noting the time and place with a physical description of
the suspicious person. If you are able to discreetly take a photo or video of
the person from your phone, this could become important evidence. Minus
photographic evidence, try to provide specific information to the authorities
including gender, race, approximate age, height and weight, hair color and
style, clothing, and general appearance including note of any facial hair,
scars, tattoos or glasses.

•Educate
the Workplace Even workplaces with a full-time security team need to
involve employees and promote the "See Something, Say Something" campaign. The
security team cannot be in every hall, office and production area at all times
- but your employees are. It is the observations of the many that can truly
make an impact. All employees should be educated on what constitutes suspicious
activity and the importance of reporting it. In some offices, it is the
receptionist who is the company's first line of defense. A receptionist should
be suspicious of an unknown individual who claims to have lost their identification
and seeks to gain entry or a caller who asks probing questions about particular
employees' schedule or whereabouts.

•Establish
Reporting Procedures in the Workplace Determining the chain of
command on reporting procedures for suspicious activity is important. When is
it appropriate for employees to call the police? If an employee feels immediate
attention is necessary, they should call 911. Does the level of activity
warrant an initial investigation from your security firm or company manager? The
Homeland Security Department has also established a tip line to report
suspicious activity, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at
1-866-HLS-TIPS. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.

Encourage
your friends, neighbors and colleagues to be observant and vigilant on the job
and even on their way to work. If there is a stray tote bag tucked under the
bus or subway seat, report it to the local police. If a stranger walks into the
office without having been identified by your front desk security personnel,
ensure that is reported immediately to the appropriate person. Vehicles
abandoned in the right of way should also be reported to local authorities
immediately.

George Anderson
is vice president, operations, for the New York office of AlliedBarton Security
Services and president of the New York Chapter of ASIS.